Venezuela outfielder Javier Sanoja (4) celebrates as he runs to homeplate to score on a double by Eugenio Suárez (7) in the ninth inning during the final game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic at loanDepot park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.
PHOTO BY AL DIAZ
adiaz@miamiherald.com
You probably saw Javier Sanoja on Tuesday well before he scored the game-winning run for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic final on Tuesday.
He was the little fireball of energy in Venezuela’s dugout down the first-base line at loanDepot park — Sanoja’s home ballpark during the MLB season with the Miami Marlins. He was jumping, cheering, celebrating with every big moment his teammates had on the field while he waited to see if his name would be called.
“From the dugout, I was just making sure I supported my teammates and stayed ready,” Sanoja said.
His moment came in the ninth inning. With the game tied, he replaced Luis Arraez at first base following a leadoff walk. Sanoja then stole second base midway through the next at-bat.
And then, after Eugenio Suarez squared up a Garrett Whitlock changeup near the middle of the strike zone and sent it to left-center field, the 5-7, 150-pound Sanoja bolted around the bases. He lifted his arms up as he got halfway down the third-base line.
Instead of being the one there to celebrate for his teammates, he was going to be in the middle of the celebration.
That run put Venezuela ahead for good and clinched its 3-2 win over the United States for Venezuela’s first-ever World Baseball Classic championship.
“He’s amazing,” Arraez said. “Sanoja made the baseball easy. He enjoys the game. This game’s hard, but he makes it easy.”
Where does this moment rank for Sanoja in his baseball career?
“Signing with a major league club is up there, but this right now is priceless,” Sanoja said. “Our country needed this and thank God we seized the opportunity.”
Venezuela outfielder Javier Sanoja (4) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a run against the United States in the ninth inning of their World Baseball Classic final game at loanDepot Park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Sanoja, 23, is coming off a successful first full major-league season with the Marlins. He played 120 games, hitting .243 with six home runs, 38 RBI, 40 runs scored and six stolen bases while playing just about everywhere in the field. He won the National League Gold Glove as a utility player.
“Overall it was a beautiful season for me,” Sanoja said, “but to be honest, what I learned was just about preparation. It was such an important key factor for me to perform to in every level, and at this level, mostly. Just going around in every position, preparation was the most important part. I’m going to take that and I’m going to use it this season as well.”
He’ll use this moment from the World Baseball Classic, too. Sanoja made an instant impression playing for his country in the tournament. He started in center field in Venezuela’s tournament opener against the Netherlands because Jackson Chourio was dealing with a minor injury. He responded by hitting a home run in the 6-2 win.
“Sanoja, he’s great,” Venezuela first baseman Wilson Contreras said after the Netherlands game. “He hits a lot. He’s very impressive. He’s a very talented player. We trust our teammates. No one has to have a big name. No one has to be No. 1. We have to take into account just details. We have to play for the next player. Everything is going to be all right like that.”
Sanoja epitomized that. He only played in one other game in the tournament until being called upon in the ninth inning to pinch-run at the most crucial time.
He knew his dugout was “suffering” after Bryce Harper tied the game with a two-run home run in the eighth inning. He knew they needed to respond.
“The important thing was that we got back in the dugout, got together and lifted each other up again to keep going to do what we did,” Sanoja said.
And then Sanoja capitalized on the opportunity given to him.
“My moment came,” Sanoja said.
This story was originally published March 18, 2026 at 1:47 AM.
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Miami Herald
Jordan McPherson covers the Miami Hurricanes and Florida Panthers for the Miami Herald. He attended the University of Florida and covered the Gators athletic program for five years before joining the Herald staff in December 2017.